In the rubber match of a three-game series between NL Central Division hopefuls, the St. Louis Cardinals knocked off the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 with some outstanding pitching and one really long hit.
Reds Vs. Cardinals: Jake Westbrook Superb As St. Louis Takes Rubber Match
Edinson Volquez took the ball Sunday night for Cincinnati and shook off some early-season first-inning struggles to keep the Cardinals blanked for quite some time. The only problem? His opponent, Jake Westbrook, was hurling zeroes of his own. Through five-and-a-half innings, this was a scoreless contest.
Then came the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Matt Holliday smacked a double off Volquez, and Lance Berkman followed with an intentional walk. After Volquez retired Daniel Descalso, he made a mistake that Yadier Molina punished, sending a long fly ball in the other direction for a home run to put the Cardinals up 3-0.
It was Molina's first homer of the year, and it was also all the support that Westbrook and the Cardinals bullpen would need. Westbrook's night ended after six scoreless innings. The ball then went to Fernando Salas, Eduardo Sanchez, and finally Mitchell Boggs in relief, and the three combined to finish the shutout, with Boggs picking up his third save in as many chances since taking over as closer from Ryan Franklin.
With the win, the Cardinals moved to 12-10 and assumed first place in the NL Central. The Reds fell to 11-11, although they have to be encouraged by what they saw from Volquez.
Albert Pujols was removed from the game for precautionary purposes with mild tightness in his hamstring.
The Reds will now travel to MIlwaukee, while the Cardinals are off to Houston.
For more on the Reds and Cardinals, please check out team blogs Red Reporter and Viva El Birdos.
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